Licensed Practical Nurse - Patient Aligned Care Team

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Qualifications Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but must not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy. Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Licensure: Full, active, current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States – or District of Columbia. Physical requirements – see additional information section. English language proficiency – must be proficient in both spoken and written English. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade determinations: a) Completion of at least one (1) year of qualifying experience at the GS‑5 level or equivalent; fully meeting all performance requirements for the GS‑5 LPN/LVN. b) Technically proficient in initiating, performing and completing assigned duties in providing care to variable patient populations. c) Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patient's conditions, use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments, and accurately recognize, report and record relevant patient information. d) Ability to observe, identify and respond to the patient's needs for care – including medication, equipment‑assisted care and patient/family education. e) Prepares and administers prescribed medications and performs treatments according to established policies and procedures. f) Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations, seek assistance of the RN and/or MD/DO, and initiate appropriate emergency interventions as directed. g) Knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations, and ability to utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members and other staff. h) Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills, and fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity. i) Incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members and other internal/external customers. j) Knowledge and skill in performing support duties for complex diagnostic tests and/or specialized practices or procedures – including preparing the patient, assisting in the diagnostic examination, preparing and handling specialized instruments or equipment, and monitoring the patient's condition before, during and after the procedure; serves as a preceptor for less experienced staff; actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills. Preferred experience: 2 years of Patient Aligned Care Team experience. Full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑06; actual grade at which an applicant may be selected is GS‑06. Physical requirements: Work requires long periods of standing, walking, heavy lifting (35 lbs and over), and positioning of patients. Must be able to bend, stoop, squat, kneel, move quickly, push and pull equipment, carry heavy loads without limitation, conduct prolonged sitting with an assigned patient, sustain physical endurance for an 8‑hour shift, resist patient assault, maintain full range of motion, grasp, maintain balance, safely lower a patient, have fine motor skills, and be emotionally and mentally stable. Duties Administers prescribed medications accurately and safely, monitors therapeutic and adverse responses. Performs basic nursing care under limited supervision, including obtaining vital signs, collecting specimens, and supporting clinical procedures. Initiates appropriate emergency responses and performs resuscitation efforts per clinical guidelines. Collects, documents, and reports patient information to support assessments and individualized care plans. Changes patient dressings using proper aseptic technique and follows wound‑care protocols. Assists patients with activities of daily living (bathing, oral hygiene, continence care) while promoting comfort, dignity and independence. Performs selected clinical interventions under limited supervision (catheterization, injections, suctioning) per scope of practice. Provides patient instruction on health maintenance, disease prevention and post‑procedural care (e.g., deep‑breathing exercises, dietary guidance). Participates in patient and family education sessions to support understanding and promote positive health outcomes. Demonstrates knowledge of surgical equipment and supplies, sets up surgical materials, and assists with positioning and draping of patients for procedures from minor to complex genitourinary surgeries. Utilizes understanding of surgical procedures to anticipate provider needs and pass instruments efficiently and safely. Communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, to convey patient status and care needs to the interdisciplinary team. Applies knowledge of environmental safety, infection control, security and patient privacy to protect patient rights and maintain a safe care environment. Cleans, disinfects and maintains reusable medical equipment per Medical Center procedures, inspects items for function and initiates repair or replacement processes when necessary. Completes all other duties as assigned to support the mission and operational needs of the Agency, Department, Facility or Service. Benefits Competitive salary and regular salary increases. Paid time off: 37‑50 days of annual paid time off per year (13‑26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military experience. Parental leave: After 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption or foster care placement. Childcare subsidy: After 60 days of employment – full‑time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of eligible costs (maximum $416.66 monthly). Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% employer contribution. Health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care insurance – many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement. Telework and virtual work not available. Additional Information Recruitment incentive (sign‑on bonus): not authorized. Permanent change of station (relocation assistance): not authorized. EDRP authorized: former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions and assistance. Functional Statement #: FS# 688‑25176‑F. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs